Plunger type air pistol



Dec. 29, 1942. G. M. STEVENS 2,306,668

PLUNGER TYPE AIR PISTOL Filed April 8, 1941 Y INVENTOR WWZSW Patented Dec. 29, 1942 UNITED STATES harm? or slcE-F PLUNGER TYPE AIR PISTOL George M. Stevens, Marcella, Ark.

Application April 8, 1941, Serial No. 387,400

4 Claims The invention relates to improvements in air pistols of the spring and plunger type; differing from existing air pistols mainly in the arrangement of its several parts, and particularly in that, to compress the spring the cylinder is operated, where, in barrel pivoted models previous to mine the springs are compressed by operating a plunger; and further that the spring stop or catch on my pistol instead of being secured to the pistols frame as is usual, is, in my arrangement, pinned to the air cylinder, and movable therewith. The objects of the improvements are; first, to obtain a more accurate reproduction of a real cartridge fire arm as to contour and balance; and second, to provide a powerful lever arm for cocking which is simple and forms part of the exterior design of the pistol.

One form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a cutaway view of a pistol and its parts when closed. Figure 2 is a cutaway view showing parts when gun is broken open. Figure 3 is a view of plunger when closed. Figure 4 is a cross section through barrel members X-X. The same numbers are used to designate like parts in the different views. 7

In the accompanying drawing I illustrate how I propose to arrange the conventional parts of a plunger air pistol in relation to a shell or case,

' said case forming a frame, lever and hand grip for the gun, in such a way that the contours of an automatic pistol are kept with only minor changes.

Figure 1 shows my arrangement of the usual parts of a repeating air pistol in respect to a case or shell; said case comprising a slide I, a barrel frame 2, and a grip or handle including trigger guard 3, representing an automatic cartridge pistol; said usual parts being barrel 4, cylinder 5, plunger head 6, connecting rod 1, spring 8, trigger ll, catch l5, and magazine 2|. Figure 1 also shows detail of the dummy muzzle.

Figure 2 shows how the gun is cocked. This is done by bringing slide l forward on barrel frame 2 to form a lever arm, and by means of said lever arm breaking the gun open at pivot l2; since cylinder 5 is hinged to said barrel frame, 2 at a point to the rear of pivot l2 by pin 13 and connecting rod 1 is pinned to pistol butt at I4 sufficient pressure on the lever arm formed by slide 1 and barrel frame 2 will raise cylinder 5 until catch l5 slips into groove I6 in plunger head 6 holding spring 8 compressed during return action, and until trigger I1 is pulled in customary manner. Spring catch I5 is secured by pin II to cylinder 5 and operates through opening II] in said cylinder wall.

The cooking action described above causes a gap 18, Figure 2, to occur between the barrel breech l9 and cylinder head 20, thus allowing a projectile to fall from magazine 2| into position at rear of barrel 4 where it is forced into firing position when the breech is closed. The firing of the projectile is accomplished by pressing back on trigger ll causing catch 15 to slip out of groove l6 freeing the plunger. As the spring 8 forces plunger head 6 to the head of cylinder 5, air is forced out through air passage 24 in cylinder head 2%] directly behind barrel forcing projectile on through barrel and out of the muzzle;

A rubber or composition washer 25 is provided 'to act as a gasket between the cylinder head 20 and the breech block* to prevent any air leakage. Air passage 24 in the cylinder head 20 is made slightly smaller than the size of the projectile to prevent the projectile from entering said air passage. The opening through gasket 25 into the barrel 4 is made slightly smaller than the projectile to prevent said projectile from passing on out of the barrel.

When the cylinder 5 is returned within the hollow pistol handle 3 after cocking, it will be seen that the connecting rod 1 must either telescope or collapse. Figure 3 shows in its closed position a form of connecting rod made in two sections, the lower one acting as a slide so it can close up or telescope.

Figure 4 is a cross section through barrel portion at point X-X, Figure 1 and shows how the under edges of slide are bent at an angle to the sides forming guides or grips 22 on barrel frame member 2 and serving the further purpose of locking the gun closed by sliding into grooves 23 at rear of gun.

It Will be seen that the above description is for a type of gun having a short barrel. In a pistol having a long barrel it will be apparent that the slide I described above for lengthening the lever arm would not be necessary.

In describing and illustrating only one example, it is not my intention to limit what I claim as my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In an air pistol of the spring and plunger type, a cocking mechanism, said mechanism including, a barrel pivoted to a handle, said barrel *Breech block is #9 in Figure 2 on drawing.

constituting a cocking lever, a cylinder connected to said barrel, said connection at a point to the rear of said pivot, said connection a hinge, said cylinder normally reposing within said handle,

said cylinder containing a plunger, said plunger 5 having a connecting means secured to the butt of said handle, a spring confined between the head of said plunger and base of said cylinder compressible therebetween, a releasable catch means to hold said spring compressed and a 10 trigger to release said catch.

2. A cocking mechanism as claimed in claim 1, 

